Have you ever thought about Teaching English Abroad? If you have, it takes a quick Google search to discover that South Korea is the number one country in the world for Teaching English Abroad! South Korea as a country is magnificent – the country is covered in rolling mountains, boasts a number of incredible beaches, it has a number of famous and beautiful islands to visit, and has a delicious and unique cuisine! Its cities are some of the biggest in the world, and while its quite a homogenous country, you’ll find a TON of expats here.
When looking for jobs at schools in Korea, you’ll be choosing between the public school system and private language schools – called “Hagwons.” You can apply to teach in South Korea’s public school system once per year through a program called “EPIK.” However, due to the small window for application and having no control over your placement with EPIK, most teachers end up looking for jobs in Hagwons.
Now, there is PLENTY of literature out there regarding Hagwons. And yet, I found that after all of my exhaustive research, THERE WAS SO MUCH I DIDN’T KNOW! My first month teaching in South Korea was absolutely insane, and this isn’t a unique experience. I’ve met many, MANY English teachers here and we somehow were all in the same boat – how did we do SO MUCH research, and were still shocked by many things here.
I wanted to put this blog post together to help all of you aspiring TEFL Teachers out there, and to give you some honest information about searching for a Hagwon in South Korea. I’ve asked a handful of English Teachers I’ve met in person, through my TEFL Academy, and from the wonderful world of Instagram to share their favorite and least favorite things about working in a Hagwon, and to give some advice to those on the hunt for a job!
This can be the most incredible experience, but it’s important to go into it with an open mind and realistic expectations. I hope you find it helpful and keep this in mind as you interview the schools, as much as they are interviewing you!
I’m eternally grateful to these awesome teachers for taking time to reflect on their experience in South Korea and share their expertise with you! Follow them along on instagram and give them some love!
KADY
What city do you live and teach in?
I live and teach in Busan!
What age(s) do you teach?
In the morning, I teach international age 4 (Korean age 5). In the afternoon, I teach elementary students!
What’s your favorite thing about teaching English in Korea?
My favorite part about teaching in Korea are my kids!!! I teach the youngest age group at my hagwon and they have the biggest personalities and surprise me everyday. Since I teach kindergarten, I act as a homeroom teacher and teach core subjects along with a few other classes. This has allowed me to bond with my class and I love them with all my heart! Although I feel like kindergarten is more work, I definitely prefer having a relationship with my students rather than just being an English instructor.
What’s the most challenging part about teaching English in Korea?
The most challenging part about working in a hagwon is seeing my 4 year olds be tired but they just have to keep trudging forward. I realize that the public school system and education system in Korea create a really tight knit community for the kids and I love that the kids feel safe in schools here, but it really is heartbreaking sometimes when my student tells me they’re tired and it truly is just from the amount of work they have to do.
What’s a piece of advice you’d share with people interviewing to teach at a Hagwon?
The one piece of advice I want to give to someone wanting to teach in South Korea – drop your entitlement!!! Of course, you should value yourself, but every time you are asking someone of something, remember that they are literally taking time out of their precious day to do something for you. Maybe this irks me especially because I’m Asian American, but when something doesn’t go the way you’re used to, remember that you chose to be in this country. The tacos will most likely not taste like back home, the Thai food probably won’t be “as good as in Thailand,” and that 50 year old restaurant most likely won’t be splitting your check for you. Remember that South Korea has its own very unique culture and understand that before choosing to come! You’ll have a much better time if you have the right expectations. 🙂
LUCY
What city do you live and teach in?
I worked in Daegu in Suseong-hi district.
What age(s) do you teach?
In the mornings I taught 5-7 year olds. In the afternoons I taught 7-13 year olds. The children’s level varied between complete beginner and advanced English.
What’s your favorite thing about teaching English in Korea?
My favorite part about teaching English in Korea was the kids! They were always the light of my day. They were creative, hard working, and fantastic to work with! I also enjoyed the opportunity to work in and learn about another culture in such an intimate way.
What’s the most challenging part about teaching English in Korea?
The most challenging part about working in a hagwon was the extremely demanding schedule. Depending on our hagwon, it can be pretty chaotic and disorganized at times and things are always changing. This was hard for me but it also helped me to grow a “tougher skin” and to become more adaptable to changing and intense environments.
What’s a piece of advice you’d share with people interviewing to teach at a Hagwon?
For individuals looking for teaching jobs in Korea, I strongly recommend doing as much research as you can about your school before you sign the contract and arrive. Talk to the school multiple times on video chat, get to know their working environment and pace, talk to current teachers through personal platforms like Instagram so that you can get honest feedback from their experiences at the school. This job takes a lot of energy and time so you want to ensure that you end up in a positive and encouraging environment. Sometimes, you can get unlucky and still get a bad hagwon even if you do your research, but to have the best chances for a positive experience keep your mind open and do lots of research!
JORDAN
What city do you live and teach in?
I live and teach in Seoul!
What age(s) do you teach?
I teach 6 year olds who are in their first year of learning English, as well as afternoon elementary classes to 1st-3rd graders!
What’s your favorite thing about teaching English in Korea?
The best part about teaching English here is definitely the people – both students and coworkers! I work with a lot of wonderful people and we have a lot of fun together and the students are SO smart and so fun to work with! I also love that living and working here gives you a lot more time to really dive into exploring the country in a way that just isn’t possible if you’re just here visiting!
What’s the most challenging part about teaching English in Korea?
The most challenging part is probably balancing expectations! I have certain expectations for my students, my managers have certain expectations for me and my students, and parents have certain expectations and it can be tricky balancing it all and meeting everyone’s expectations.
What’s a piece of advice you’d share with people interviewing to teach at a Hagwon?
I would say to fully research the job before you make a decision! English teachers will always be in demand, so don’t feel pressured to take the first job offered to you! I’d also definitely recommend that you learn to read Korean & learn some basic phrases! Especially if you move to Seoul, people will tell you “tons of people speak English” – but that’s really not at all true outside of the touristy areas. Reading Hangul will also make your daily life SO much easier!
PERLIE
What city do you live and teach in?
I live and teach in Busan.
What age(s) do you teach?
7-year-olds (6 years old international age)
What’s your favorite thing about teaching English in Korea?
The kids! Education is prioritized so highly in this country, so it’s amazing how much these kids know and are able to do at such a young age. They are also so funny and full of character! I have grown so attached to them as their teacher and will definitely miss them so much once my contract ends.
What’s the most challenging part about teaching English in Korea?
Probably adjusting to the different workplace culture. In contrast to typical teaching positions in the U.S, we do have to remember that hagwons are essentially businesses and are operated as such. It’s important to keep an open mind that teaching in a hagwon in Korea is a lot different than teaching at a public school back home.
What’s a piece of advice you’d share with people interviewing to teach at a Hagwon?
Talk to every teacher currently at the school and ask about their experience working there! That’s your best gauge for how a teaching position will be. Interview for several positions. Don’t just accept your first offer so you can have options to choose from and can compare hours/benefits/locations.
AMANDA
What city do you live and teach in?
I live and work in Seongnam.
What age(s) do you teach?
I teach Korean ages 6-11 (international age my kindergartner’s are actually 4 & 5).
What’s your favorite thing about teaching English in Korea?
My favorite part is teaching the kindergartners. They are so cute and small and are like sponges. They absorb everything you say and are so affectionate and loving. It’s amazing how much they learn in one year!
What’s the most challenging part about teaching English in Korea?
The management at my school. Sometimes, they are uncommunicative and it can be hard to navigate that.
What’s a piece of advice you’d share with people interviewing to teach at a Hagwon?
Look up your school online! Look on Facebook and Google. Look at all the hagwon blacklists to see if your school is on it and if it is, ask yourself if you can deal with the reasons they’re on that list. Do your research! It will really help you to narrow down your search for the best fit school for you.
CELI
What city do you live and teach in?
I live and work in Busan.
What age(s) do you teach?
I teach Kindergarten and Elementary aged students.
What’s your favorite thing about teaching English in Korea?
My favorite thing is the provided housing, you get to save so much and becoming a first year teacher in Korea is just very user friendly for the most part!
What’s the most challenging part about teaching English in Korea?
The most challenging thing is that it’s a toss up of whether you get a bad or decent hagwon. I would say 85% of them will have something that you won’t like because it’s a business and Korean business culture is very cut throat. I think the most challenging part is feeling like I’m not treated as a professional teacher, but just a worker who has to perform to please parents. This isn’t all the time but I remember feeling like that a lot at the beginning. It does get better with time.
What’s a piece of advice you’d share with people interviewing to teach at a Hagwon?
I would advise everyone to really read your contract and to not leave anything to assumption. Ask about what’s included, what the school pays for (flights back home, attendance bonus etc.), and make sure you have the expectations clear before you sign a contract.
LEXIE
What city do you live and teach in?
I live and teach in Busan! I live near Gwangalli Beach and teach in Centum City.
What age(s) do you teach?
I teach 5 year old students (international age 3 and 4) in their first year of English during the day, and 6, 7, and 8 year olds in the afternoon.
What’s your favorite thing about teaching English in Korea?
My favorite part of teaching is absolutely the kids! I genuinely love each and every one of them. It has been challenging teaching the young kids, however, their hearts are HUGE and I love being their teacher. I’m also so proud of their progress this year – they started the year not knowing any English whatsoever, and now they’re speaking in full sentences! It’s incredible working with them and being both their teacher and their cheerleader.
What’s the most challenging part of teaching English in Korea?
Hagwons are run as a business. You will read this all over the internet, and many schools will try to convince you otherwise, but BELIEVE IT. The hardest part is the long hours, and the lack of breaks that the kids get. I do my best to be upbeat, bubbly, encouraging, and entertaining, but it’s a LONG day for these kids. My kids are 3 and 4 years old and get no nap time, and very little play time. It’s important to be positive for the kids, but it’s definitely challenging.
What’s a piece of advice you’d share with people interviewing to teach at a Hagwon?
The age of the kids they tell you you’re teaching is their Korean age, NOT their international age. What does this mean? Koreans are automatically one year old when they are born, and their age doesn’t change on their birthday. Rather, their ages change with the new year. This means that if you are hired to teach 5 year olds, you’re actually going to be working with kids that are 3 and turning 4. I’m not sure how I missed this information, but I was shocked when I discovered that my “5 year olds” were actually 3. Be aware of this when you are interviewing!
TEFL CERTIFICATION
I could write a novel about teaching English in Korea, but I hope you found some easy to digest wisdom from all of us in this post. It’s definitely a job that has high highs and low lows, and it isn’t for the faint of heart! That being said, working with these kids is a blast and you’ll certainly have plenty of laughs and feel extremely loved!
In addition, South Korea is an incredible country to live in and to explore. There’s a thriving expat community here, and I have found that we all really take care of each other. South Korea is also one of the safest countries in the world! Being an American, it’s remarkable how safe I feel here! Healthcare is accessible and affordable, and you can’t beat the school covering your rent expenses!
Wherever you are in your journey, congratulations! We’re wishing you all of the best on your job search and your big move!
Interested in getting your TEFL Certification and don’t know where to begin? Most of us were certified through the International TEFL Academy, and I can’t recommend them enough! You can find my referral link here.
Still have questions about teaching English in Korea? Drop a comment or message me directly! I’m happy to help assist you on your job search and answer any remaining questions you have.
All my Love,
Lex
